Giaimo is seeking an exceptional undergraduate candidate to work with the firm in the Fall of 2023. The firm is eager to connect with students from any course of study who are interested in working in an architectural office and passionate about cultural heritage, design, conservation, city-building, and sustainability.
About the organization:
Giaimo is a Toronto-based architecture firm integrating design and heritage conservation. We specialize in developing contextual and creative solutions within existing buildings, fostering environmentally, socially, and culturally sustainable places through adaptive reuse, renovations, interventions, and retrofits. In 2021, Giaimo was selected and featured as part of Canadian Architect’s Twenty+ Change Emerging Talent issue.
About the placement:
We see a lot of value in the existing. At Giaimo, our work focuses on merging old with new, with projects ranging from cultural hub feasibility studies and heritage reports, to multi-unit residential apartment renovations and restoration of historic buildings. Our studio is also actively engaged in the architecture and heritage community and passionate about advocating for design excellence, as seen in our involvement with the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO), Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC), Toronto Society of Architects (TSA), and Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). To support this work, Giaimo is seeking a candidate with strong communications and research skills to join our team and assist in a range of projects that we currently have underway.
Tasks and responsibilities may include:
- Assisting in the research and writing of heritage impact assessments and conservation plans
- Organization and management of the studio materials and books library
- Developing marketing material including writing content for the website and social media
- Supporting proposal pursuits and business development initiatives
- Undertaking research for special projects related to sustainable design on topics such as embodied carbon, deconstruction, material salvage and reuse, and circular construction
Exact tasks and project assignments will depend on the candidate’s skill sets and interests. In-person meetings will take place weekly, and the candidate will report to Giaimo’s Associates and Creative Director while working in close collaboration with the entire studio team.
Requirements: The internship will take place in-person at Giaimo’s office in downtown Toronto, and may require occasional site visits such as to projects and archives in or near Toronto.
Timing/hours of placement: The placement is 8-10 hours per week for 12 weeks during the Fall 2022 semester (September-December). Attending the office in-person during office hours (9-5:30) for a full day or flexible half-days on either Monday, Wednesday, or Friday is preferred to align with office-wide team meetings and project coordination.
Credit: Half credit (0.5). This internship is for pass/fail course credit at the University of Toronto through the Department of Art History. This is not a paid position.
Other: A bursary from Giaimo is available to support students in this position in addition to the CEWIL bursary.
Interested students should send an application by August 28, 2023 to Dr Jessica Mace (jessica.mace@utoronto.ca). Applications should include 1) a letter of interest (including any relevant coursework or experience), 2) a bursary eligibility form, and 3) a resume. Please indicate to which posting(s) you are applying. If you are interested in multiple postings, you only need to submit one application.
This project has been funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning program and CEWIL Canada’s iHUB.
This project is supported by the Learning & Education Advancement Fund at the University of Toronto.
Canada constructed: architecture, landscape, history 